"Certainly, sir, we do," replied the officers in chorus.
"Thank you! thank you!" exclaimed Fanny Glen, gratefully, with boundless relief in her voice.
By this time she was as close to Sempland as she could get, and entirely unconscious of what he was doing, the latter had thrown his arm protectingly around her waist.
"Wait, Miss Glen," said the general, severely, lifting his hand and checking her further speech, "you cannot think to escape scot free. Such actions cannot go entirely unpunished. So long as Miss Fanny Glen exists she must suffer for her actions. You are agreed with me, gentlemen?"
It was remarkable the unanimity with which they all supported their general's decisions on so serious a matter, and practically without deliberation.
"Captain Sempland, as a soldier, I am sure you will acquiesce in the views of your brother officers."
Sempland bit his lip. Fanny Glen nestled closer to him and looked up at him beseechingly.
"Oh, General!" he said at last. "Isn't there some way out of it?"
"There may be," said the general, solemnly. "Let me think a moment. Suppose--ah, suppose, Miss Fanny Glen were to disappear?"
"But where can I go, sir?" asked the girl, nervously. "All that I love--" she observed a smile flickering upon the general's lips as she glanced at Sempland. "I mean everybody and everything that I love is here." She stamped her foot impatiently. "You won't send me to the Union fleet? I know my father is safe--but I love the South. I will never do anything wrong again if you won't send me away!" she pleaded.
It was, indeed, a sweeping promise, one she could scarcely have kept.
"There are other ways by which Miss Fanny Glen might disappear," said Beauregard, gravely.
"Yes. You might become--Mrs. Rhett Sempland, let us say!"
"O-o-oh!" cried the girl, blushing furiously and drawing away from her lover's side.
"Quite so," answered the general with deep gravity, too deep not to be suspicious, while Sempland's heart leaped with happiness. This was the meaning of the general's little play, then?
"Proceedings which would have to be instituted against Fanny Glen could then be allowed to drop," continued Beauregard, enjoying the situation immensely. "Is not that a solution, gentlemen?" he asked, throwing back his head and laughing cheerfully at the pleasant ending of the little comedy he had planned, which pleased the small audience hugely.